NASCAR driver makes a stop at local Boys & Girls Club

Thursday

Sep 24, 2009 at 12:01 AMSep 24, 2009 at 4:04 PM

Greg Biffle, who will be driving the No. 16 car in this weekend's race, gave autographs and had his picture taken with kids at the Greater Dover Boys & Girls Club. In a short speech, Biffle encouraged more than 60 kids to remember the importance of teamwork and emphasized that he couldn't race without the help of his crew members.

Elaine Hughes, Staff Writer

Children’s playing wasn’t the only sound heard at the Greater Dover Boys & Girls Club on Sept. 24.

The engine of the CitiFinancial car was revved in front of the club, after more than 60 kids had their picture taken in front of the car with NASCAR driver Greg Biffle.

Biffle visited the club as part of a community outreach program organized by CitiFinancial Group, and during a short speech in the gymnasium, Biffle said he was fortunate to have many team members that prepares his car before races and work on the pit crew.

“The most important part is that we’re communicating and working as a team,” Biffle said, who has finished in the top 10 at Dover International Speedway nine times.

After the speech, Biffle gave autographs and then posed for pictures with the kids in front of the CitiFinancial Group car. Biffle said he would be driving the No. 16 Ford Focus car in this weekend’s race and aims to win the race, as he did last year, at Dover International Speedway.

Jim Ryan, senior vice president of marketing for CitiFinancial Group, said the bank held a similar event last year near Dover Downs and chose to move the program to the Boys & Girls Club to provide a more intimate setting that would allow more kids to interact with the NASCAR driver.

“It’s a good way for us to connect with the community,” Ryan said. “With a guy like Greg Biffle, not many people may know who he is, but after today, everyone in this room should remember him.”

Darryl Tingle, executive director of the Greater Dover Boys & Girls Club, said he agreed for Biffle to come to the club to give kids, who might not have the opportunity to go to a race, the opportunity to learn about NASCAR.

“These young people, maybe this is something they’d like to do,” Tingle said. “And if not, they could still learn about it and take away the lessons about honesty and teamwork.”

Tingle said the event was also a chance for the kids to see something different.

“Even if they don’t like NASCAR, we’re trying to teach them to learn about something before they judge it,” he added.